What if living abroad isn’t an escape but a way to see home clearly? Evan Jaqua has lived in Japan, China, and across South America, speaks four languages, and now channels those lessons into the Solutions Party, a reform project looking to break politicians’ addiction to power.
In Episode 9 of Foreign Radio, we talk about how people worldwide all share something in common: the desire for freedom and prosperity. We discuss why “one-idea” systems fail, how pluralism and good journalism keep societies healthy, and how international experience can shape how we behave at home. Evan provides a sober approach to risk, too: don’t run away from problems; do your homework before moving abroad, and know where you’re going and the culture you’re entering.
This episode is for anyone weighing a move or wanting to borrow an international lens to make meaningful decisions at home.
What You’ll Learn
* Why power behaves like an addiction—and how to design politics to resist it
* The surprising sameness across cultures: freedom, prosperity, future for our kids
* “One idea only”: lessons from time in China
* How immersion (not headlines) rewires assumptions
* Solutions Party 101: term limits, de-tribalized parties, stronger journalism
* Why disagreement is permanent and how mature societies manage it
* Practical pathways to go overseas (or borrow the perspective at home)
* Why time > stuff: design your life around the scarce resource
* Courage over hesitation: action beats fear
* Why “running away” is the wrong reason and what to do instead—research: avoid authoritarianism abroad.
Show Notes
* Shared humanity first: Under the noise, most people want the same things—freedom and prosperity—and we’ve got to steer back to that common aim.
* Power as a drug: Why leaders (and systems) relapse into self-preservation—and how to break the cycle with structural limits.
* Pluralism vs. “one idea”: Living in China showed Evan how brittle single-perspective systems become; democratic strength = diversity of opinion.
* From expat to engaged: Languages and years abroad didn’t pull Evan away from home—they armed him to contribute back.
* Solutions Party in brief: One-term service, parties that organize ideas (not tribes), and journalism strong enough to inform rather than inflame.
* Handle disagreement like adults: Conflict is inevitable; the craft is how we process it without rage addiction.
* Design for time: Choose location, habits, and work that give time back; stuff can be managed—time cannot.
* Sober travel: Moving isn’t a cure-all. Do due diligence on safety, rule of law, and real political conditions.
* Borrow the lens: If you can’t go yet, build an international perspective locally—communities, languages, and cross-cultural work.
* Act despite fear: Start small, keep moving; clarity comes from motion.
More About Evan
Evan Jaqua is an international business development specialist and polyglot who has lived in Japan, South America, and China. Fluent in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese, he’s seen how different systems shape everyday life, and how much ordinary people share: a desire for freedom and prosperity. Evan founded the Solutions Party to translate those lessons into reforms at home, tackling politics’ addiction to power with structural fixes, healthier parties, and a revitalized press. His outlook is worldly, practical, and grounded in lived experience.
Recorded October 7, 2025
Links
* Belize & foreigner life essays
* On the Road in Mexico- My experience driving through Mexico when moving to Belize
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If you enjoy this podcast, you might also like the A Foreign Perspective, Foreigner501, Foreign Tales, the Lili Art Blog, or my award-winning book Home in Good Hands.
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